MHA-FYOS Dean's Blog

This week’s  parasha , Ki Tavo, describes the blessings and curses that Hashem will visit upon  b'nei Yisrael  in response to our adherence to or disobedience of the  mitzvot . One blessing that the Torah assures us of is, “Hashem will command the blessing with you in your barns, and in all that you put your hand into; and He will bless you in the land which Hashem your God is giving you.” In essence, Hashem promises that we will be blessed when we keep the Torah. While the Torah assures us that we will be blessed, it does not tell us the mechanism through which we will receive the blessing. A fascinating article recently published in the  Chicago Tribune  helps shed light on one of the many ways in which Hashem blesses us for keeping one very important mitzva – tzedakah or charity. “ Generosity May Be a ‘Magic Pill’ for Happiness and Longevity ” describes recent studies that demonstra...

In this week’s parasha , Ki Tetze, the Torah outlines the mitzvah of  shiluach haken  – sending away the mother bird before taking its chicks or eggs from the nest. The Torah writes, “When you will happen upon a bird’s nest on the way in any tree or on the ground – with chicks or eggs – and the mother is sitting on the chicks or on the eggs, do not take the mother with the children. Surely send away the mother and the children you can take for yourself – in order that it will be good for you and (that) you will lengthen your days.”  (Devarim 22:6-7) While the Torah does outline the reward for keeping this  mitzvah , it does not provide its reason. Ramban – Nachmanides – suggests two possible objectives of this  mitzvah . His first explanation is that the  mitzvah  promotes sensitivity. Cruelty is a harmful character trait that should be discouraged even when animals are the target. Therefore, we are prohibited from t...

This week’s  parasha , Parashat Shoftim, opens with the  mitzvah  to appoint judges and officers upon the entry of the Jewish People into the Land of Israel. The Torah instructs us to institute courts of varying sizes in different locales. In Yerushalayim, we are to appoint a Sanhedrin – a court of seventy judges and a head of the court – the  av beit din . In big cities, we are to appoint courts of twenty-three judges; in smaller cities, courts of three. The author of the Sefer HaChinuch discusses the root or benefit of this commandment. He explains that these courts, and the officers who support the courts, help acclimate the people to follow the law by instilling a fear of punishment or consequences. Building on this foundation of being accustomed to do that which is good, the people will “teach their natures to do justice and righteousness out of love and out of recognition of the true path”. In other words, promoting society to keep the law is a two-step pr...

Parashat Re’eh continues Moshe Rabbenu’s final message to the Jewish People. In this section, Moshe discusses the mitzvot of  bal tosif  and  bal tigra  – to not add or subtract from the mitzvot of the Torah. Our sages teach us that the Torah is comprised of  taryag  – there are 613 mitzvot in the Torah. Rashi explains that an individual Jew is not permitted to add a new part to a mitzvah – for example, taking five species on Sukkot instead of four. Furthermore, an individual Jew is not permitted to subtract from a mitzvah – for example, taking three species on Sukkot instead of four. The GR”A, Rabbenu Eliyahu Mi’Vilna, explains further that a Jewish Court is not permitted to add a new mitzvah or subtract one of the 613 mitzvot . Rabbenu Ovadiah Seforno gives some context to   these two commandments. Concerning the prohibition of adding to the Torah, he explains that this  mitzvah  is designed to prevent a person fr...

The beginning of school is such an exciting and enthusiastic time in the lives of our students and children. New teachers. New classmates. New routines. New classrooms. New privileges. Often this excitement and enthusiasm is accompanied by the tension created by the unfamiliar. Sometimes, students feel insecure about the prospect of starting school anew. In this week’s parasha, Parashat Ekev, the Torah presents the continuation of Moshe Rabbenu’s exhortation to the Jewish People – a Jewish People on the cusp of inheriting the Land of Israel and on the verge of losing their leader. Moshe Rabbenu says to the people, “If /when ( ki ) you will say in your hearts: these nations are great, how can I dispossess them? Do not be afraid of them! You will surely remember that which Hashem did to Pharoah and all of Egypt.” (Devarim 7:17-18) The great commentator, Rabbenu Ovadiah Seforno, addresses himself to the Torah’s use of the word  ki . Our Rabbis teach us that  ki  has ...

Our seventh and eighth grade students returned this past week from the ten-day Junior High Israel Experience program. Mrs. Anat Kampf, Chazzan Ricky Kampf and I were honored to chaperone this inaugural program, and, on behalf of the students, we are very thankful to the parents, to the community and Lemsky Fund for their support of this endeavor. Our students soaked up the land, the people and the Torah of Eretz Yisrael. At school, we learn Torah. In Israel, we experienced the Torah. At school we learn about the impact and significance of the State of Israel. In Israel, we experienced the geography, history and people of the State of Israel. In school, we learn Ivrit. In Israel, we spoke Ivrit. Our students experienced the breadth and depth of the land. They had both an urban experience – sleeping in Yerushalayim for six days – and a more pastoral experience – sleeping in Kibbutz Lavi. They visited sites of destruction and death that now have renewed vitality and significance...

I am writing from Eretz Yisrael and I am so fortunate to be here guiding our seventh and eighth grade students, together with Chazzan Ricky Kampf and Mrs. Anat Kampf, on our inaugural Junior High Israel Experience program. The more that we see of the country and land of Israel, the more we want to learn and to see. The students are having a magnificent experience! We are so appreciative of the support of the students’ parents, of the community and of the Lemsky Foundation for making this program possible. One of the themes that we have discussed repeatedly this week on the program is that in Eretz Yisrael, mitzvot are, so to speak, all around us. The key is to recognize and to look for them. For example, upon leaving the Dead Sea we were trying to make a mincha minyan before driving back to Yerushalayim. We struck up a conversation with a gentleman and it turned out that he needed a minyan so that he could say kaddish for his mother who had recently passed away. We made the m...